Nevada County picayune., 1887-01-12

1 States, and he on the other hand told me lot of wonderful things about the canal. Ie made no se- eret Of his conviction that the en. terprise would drag along for ye"rs. but as he was making bushels ofnoney the delay played into his hands. AS declined to stay all night with him. Jackson gave me some directions about my route, and at my departure con. iided to me package containing =5000. asking me to deposit it for him in one of the banks at Aspin- wall. 1 suggested that there was danger in carrying such a sum of money through the country. but the stalwart fellow laughed at my tears. He said that l would make the hacienda of Don Francisco Mcndez at nighlfall, where would be royalty entertained. By day light he thought that | could take care of myself.
 While this talk was going Oh 1 saw two brutal looking Mexicans at a short distance, watching us in- tentIy and conferriug together in low tones.
 Il don't like the looks of those rascals," l said.
 Hello, there! Pedro and you, Jnaum shouted Jackson. "Get to work, you lazy devils"'
 The Mexicans growled out a few oaths and sullenly retired.
 "Fhey are two of the worst men in eamp.' said Jackson, "but they are not likely to bother yon.n
 mad my doubts, bnt the pros poets of stay ing all night with Men dez somewhat reassured me. and l started off in good spirits. My road took ne through a scene of heNilding beauty. The tropical foliage around me glittered with all the hues of the rainbow. UL- known flowers of gogcouS maguil- icence and oyerpowcring fragrance frightened the roadside Attimes ] passed through what seemed 10 be section of an escaped menag, erie. Macaws and parrots screeeh- rd at me from every bush. mon strous iguanaS baSkcd on the fallen llmber>. droves of peccaIics cross ed my path; once an alligator frightened my steed, and several times heard in the distance tue cry of the jaguar, Still l did not feel apprehtusive. l was well mounted. and as a last resort l had my revolver.
 Suddenly came upon a small pond of clear water in all op, II space. Hot, dusty and travel worn, could not stand the tempta- ton. Without counting the conse- quences, lastened the mustang to sapling and undressed in a hurry, placing my revolver under my clothes on the edge of the water. Then plunged in and enjoyed a retreSiug swim. One thing an noyed me. All along the way l had met with monkeys everyw where. They were all sizes, and the inter est they took in my movements amused me not q little. Some times they chattered at me indig- nantly and shook their fists al most in my face. At a wave of my hand, however, they fled in precipitate terror As soon as l entered the lake the monkeys seemed to take fresh courage. They scrambled in drOyes and amused me to their hearts con- tent. Among them was one of species that l had not seen before. H was a ferocious looking mon Ster, fully five feet high, and as muscular as bear. Before l real ized the situation this long-legged giant swoopcd down on my clothes and started with them for the woods. For moment was abso- lntely paralizrd, II was no joke to ride to Aspinwall in a decent rig, bnt | had no fancy for the role of Lady Godiva. There was no time to lose. Tue monkey had left my pistol. and as soon as could selze 1t l fired. ile gave howl of rage and dropped everything but my coat. l hastily jumped lrto mN recovered garments and gave chase. |, was useless. The fiend- ish thief skurried up into the top of a tall cocoa tree, and ln the ,,,;,,il;.,x X f aC a,,, ,,t,t ,, Y,,,t ,Aat